I just finnished recorking an old Noblet (wood) for a little sixth grader who had it handed down to her. It is in exceptionaly fine condition sounds beautiful, but what really caught my eye was the serial number. It only has three digits (792). Its in a formed wood case with a blond tweed like material like those made looong ago. It even still has an old tin of the lard-bees wax cork grease. Anybody got an idea what model it is or its vintage?

Willie - It sounds like our old car club title, Oldies 'N Goodies, cant really help but I would guess its a truly-cylindrical [UJ] bore, and if its like oldies of mine tends to play flat above G [top-of-staff]. Does it show an old patent #, 1,9xx,xxx [an early LeBlanc, have copy, for date]? Be sure to caution the student about the "unprotected" bridge key. If I think of more will post. Don

Don: you have to post more about the unprotected bridge key. (Just keep it clean for the kiddies on the board.)

re Noblet ages: I wrote to LeBlanc about the age of my (now AWOL) Noblet metal clarinet with a serial number 13xx. LeBlanc thought it dated to the 1940s. (Of course, it is possible that they used a different numbering series for other models.

Obviously I made a poor choice of words. What I meant was that if the bridge key structure [ top and/or bottom pieces] did not have "ears", as early cl's did not, there was the possibility of bending or breaking when assembling the UJ and LJ, if done carelessly [or without pressing the LH D ring to raise the UJ bridge], as I did early in my career. Sorry if I caused a communication problem re: a simple assembly step. Don